Yearly coating of driveway is a bad idea

Q. My neighbors and I seal-coat our driveways every year. In a recent column, you said that driveway sealers should not be re-applied any sooner than four to five years. So are you recommending we seal-coat every four to five years?

A. Applying a sealer to a driveway too often creates a build-up that can eventually lead to cracking of the finish known as “alligatoring.” And the more you add coats, the worse it gets. The cracks are not waterproof and water can get into the asphalt and cause early damage. Sealers should be applied only when the existing coating is worn down.